A zealous team of microbiologists from Central Queensland University are working hard to take advantage of the healing powers of a crocodile protein and meld this with 3D printing technology to form an alternative treatment for joint damage.
A joint that has recently suffered from a traumatic injury is likely to leave a hole or a crack between the adjoining bone. When this happens, the cartilage will have much difficulty in healing itself since there is no adequate blood being supplied to the bone. There is a hole in you and you need to fill that in
A crocodile cartilage 3D bioprint, otherwise known to other sectors as a “soup”, can be taken advantage of for this purpose. The 3D bioprint of crocodile cartilage can be used to fill the hole by inserting it into the gap. The cartilage of this reptile is found to have high concentrations of proteoglycans. It is a kind of protein that promotes the growth of tissues.
The Alternative to Joint Surgery
In the United States alone, approximately 54 million people are suffering from arthritis. While in England and Wales, there is an average of 160,000 knee and hip replacement surgeries done every single year.
The transfer of a piece of a tissue or a cell from an animal body or plant to the human body, referred to as 3D printing explant technique, is likely to take the place of current joint repair methods which are surgery in nature.
What the research team from CQUniversity is trying to look for is a joint cartilage repair system with long-term benefits that will allow the patient to go back to his normal life after the medical procedure was performed on him. Consequently, they don’t need to worry about the long-term impact of previously inflamed joints.
3D Bioprinting the Cartilage of a Crocodile
Compared to many other creatures in the animal kingdom, the crocodile does have a much greater volume of cartilage, which is working to its advantage because it is allowing these reptiles to maintain its movements. The cartilage found around the ribs of a crocodile is most invaluable to the participants in the CQUniversity research. Simply because it is very rich in proteoglycans.
After acquiring the cartilage, the decellularization process will be initiated to help in removing the DNA and the crocodile cells. By this measure, it will prepare and render the proteoglycans suitable for human explant.
3D Printed Implants
The discovery of bioglass in 2016 paved the way for the possible use of 3D printed bioglass implants. This type of implants helps promote new cartilage to grow and enhance the healing process of damaged joints. Mechatronics engineer, Mihaela Vlasea, leads a research team that same year to create a 3D printed bone. This kind of bioprinted bone is capable of grafting itself to a live, existing bone and initiate the repair process of damaged cartilage.
In 2017, Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceuticals’ neurological and orthopaedic franchise DePuy Synthes acquired Tissue Regeneration Systems’ 3D printing technology. The said bioprinting technology is capable of fabricating patient-specific implants that promote bone tissue regrowth. Johnson and Johnson also partnered that same year with Aspect Biosystems which helped them 3D print a knee.